Lampshade and lamp combination and means for joining one with the other

ABSTRACT

A lampshade and lamp combination including a molded lampshade having a central recess forming a bulb housing and an electric bulb socket engaging member. The lamp includes a vertical lamp part with an electric bulb socket at its upper end. The socket engaging member has a bearing surface which rests under the force of gravity on a circumferential portion of the socket thereby maintaining the lampshade in a constant vertical and horizontal position on the lamp with respect to the lamp post.

United States Patent 11 1 Lieberman I LAMPSHADE AND LAMP COMBINATION AND MEANS FOR JOINING ONE WITH THE OTHER [76] Inventor: Gilbert Lieberman, 750-16th Ave.,

Pointe-aux-Trembles, Montreal 500, Canada [22] Filed: Feb. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 223,132

[52] US. Cl. 240/108 R, 240/10 R, 240/126 [51] Int. Cl. F2lv 1/00- [58] Field of Search 24O/1O R, 81 R, 81 LB,

DID/126,153, 108 R, 108

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS' 11/1938 1/1956 9/1965 Niko1l 240 10 R Robinson et a1. .....'240/81 LD' Callard....; 240/81 R 1 1111 3,813,537 145 May 28, 1974 9/1971 Marasco 240/108R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 804,754 11/1936 France 240/81 LD 206.634 11/1923 'Great Britain 240/81 LD Primary Examiner-Joseph F. Peters [5 7 ABSTRACT A lampshade and lamp combination including a molded lampshade having a central recess forming a bulb housing and an electric bulb socket engaging member. The lamp includes a vertical lamp part with an electric bulb socket at its upper end. The socket engaging member has ,a bearing surface which rests under the force of gravity on a circumferential portion of the socket thereby maintaining the lampshade in a constant vertical and horizontal position on the lamp with respect to the lamp post.

' 3 Claims, 7 Drawing'Figures SHEET 2 [IF 3 THE L PATENTEDMAYZB 1914 3813537 sum a nr 3 v 3s 31 so TIE 6 LAMPSHADE AND LAMP COMBlNATlON AND MEANS FOR JOINING ONE WITH THE OR The invention relates to improvements in a lampshade and lamp combination and means for detachably joining one with the other, as described in the present specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings that form a part of the same.

The invention consists essentially in the novel features of construction as pointed out broadly and specifically in the claims for novelty following a description containing an explanation in detail of acceptable forms of the invention.

In the past, and up to the present time, the mounting of a lampshade upon a lamp was generally accomplished by means of a harp and finial arrangement, which had a washer interposed between the lamp and the electric socket, with the electrical wire passing therethrough before the socket was wired and secured to the lamp. in other instances a wire clip was used for clamping a lampshade on to a light bulb, whichengaged with the lamp socket of a lamp. Other fittings, such as those used for bridge lamps were provided with a thin threaded washer, which was lightly, but insecurely, threaded on to an external threadat the top edge of a lamp socket.

All such and similar fittings generally relied upon a stem for contacting a central point within a lampshade for supporting the lampshade upon the lamp, the result being that the lampshade and lamp joinder became a wobbly set-up and continuously required manual adjustments to rearrange the lampshade in proper alignment on the lamp fixture.

ln the assembly of a lampshade and a lamp an important factor is that the proportions between the ratio of the height of the lamp'and the height of the lampshade be carefully arranged to obtain the proper distance above the top of the lamp in relation to the lampshade mountedth'ereon so that the reading light would be exactly what was required by the lamp designers.

Such ratio adjustments were often accomplished through the use of a shade-rest made by a tightly fitting post within a collar which was set with a thumb-screw at various heights, allowing a play about 2 inches. This adjustment, however, was not primarily for the purpose of allowing more or less light but for the purpose of slightly raising the shade, if the lamp was placed on a low table, or slightly lowering it, if placed on a high table, in order that the proportions originally designed would be kept constant.

Furthermore those various lamp fittings and adjustments were made of a multiple of parts and secured to a lamp but independent of the lampshade, which was movably supported on the fittings, thereby causing another objection to the use of such fittings as the symmetry of the lamp and the lampshade was often disarrange'd and misaligned though accidentally or otherwise tilting the position of the lampshade in relation to the lamp.

Another important factor, apart from the utility of the lamp and lampshade combination, is in having the lamp and lampshade combination ornamental and attractive in appearance and in hiding the unattractive and unornamental parts thereof. Unfortunately such lamp fittings and other lampshade supporting means do not lend themselves for automatic adjustments when the lampshade is not in a proper vertical and horizontal LII locus position on the lamp, as the tilting of the lampshade will automatically expose unattractive and unornamental parts of the lamp fittings, such as the socket and'fitting parts.

' It is therefore the purpose of this invention to eliminate such and other objectionable features that have been found in former lampshade and lamp combinations, bydevising a lampshade and lamp'combination in which the lampshade fitting forms an integral part of the lampshade and while being adapted to be detachably mounted onto a lamp it is completely independent thereof, and while the lampshade is supported on the lamp, its lower circumferential or other suitably shaped edge will be located approximately level or below the lower portion or edge of the electric lamp bulb socket, which engages with the uppermost portion of the lamp post or vase of the lamp, the lampshade at all times,

while mounted onto the lamp, maintaining its vertical and horizontal angle positions with relation to the bottom of the base of the lamp.

Among the objects of the invention is to devise a lampshade that is automatically capable of being adjusted in both the vertical and horizontal directions while being firmly and detachably engaged to a lamp, so as to maintain its proper height position with relation to the position of the lamp socket which is approximately secured to the upper portion of the lamp regardless of the height or length of the lamp post or vase extending from its lamp base.

Another object of the invention is to devise a-means whereby an electric bulb may be connected to the lamp socket of the lamp after the lampshade has been detachably secured to the lamp and through the top opening of a lampshade fitting which forms an integral part of the lampshade.

Still another object of the invention is to devise a lampshade and lamp combination in such a way that, while the lampshade is mounted upon the lamp, the plane of the angle of the lampshade and the angle of the base of the lamp will remain parallel to one another.

A still further object of the invention is to construct a lampshade and lamp combination in such a way that when the electric light bulb is-engaged with the electric lamp socket of the lamp it will be devoid of any contact with bulb metal clips or any other parts of the lamp and/or lampshade fittings.

A further object of the invention is to devise a lampshade and lamp combination whereby the lampshade will-have its own integral lampshade fitting which is adapted to'envelope a bulb connected with an electric lamp socket that is secured to a lamp and which forms a seat for the integral lampshade fitting of the lampshade. f

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and the advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the following description, and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific means for convenience; the names, however, are intended to be generic in their application.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lampshade and lamp combination.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the lampshade and lamp combination and showing an opening through the top of the lampshade which is located in alignment with the bulb that is secured to the lamp socket (shown .in stipple lines) of the lamp.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view as taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. I.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged'fragmentary isometric view illustrating the lampshade fitting as being an integral part of the lampshade and surrounding the opening formed through the top of the lampshade, and the lamp socket being secured to the lamp post or vase of the lamp and forming a seat for the lampshade and its integral lampshade fitting.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention and illustrating the lampshade as collapsible and the lampshade fitting forming an integral part of the lampshade.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lampshade, as illustrated in FIG. 5, broken away to show the lampshade fitting integral with the lampshade.

FIG. 7 is a view of the lampshade as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, in a collapsed position ready for packagmg. a

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Briefly the invention pertains toa lampshade and lamp combination in which the lampshade has a lampshade fitting projecting inwardly of the interior of the lampshade and is formed integral therewith and which is adapted to engage with a completely wired lamp socket that is suitably secured to a lamp.

The lampshade and the lamp may be shaped in various configurations and formed of similar or contrasting materials, always providing that the lampshade fitting is an integral part of the lampshade and is capable of engaging with a seat rest which forms a part of the lamp socket and/or the lamp socket fixture of the lamp.

Referring to the drawings, the lampshade and lamp combination, as illustrated in FIGS. I to 4, are designed to be molded with all integral parts preferably made of a plastic or equivalent composition which may be both fire resistant and non-conductive of electricity and which will give the lampshade and lamp combination stability with the minimum of weight.

The lampshade is somewhat dome shape in configuration, as indicated by the numeral 10, and has its top central inner circumferential ledge portion 11 recessed downwardly to form an integral lampshade fitting 12, which consists of an upper. vertical inner integral circumferential wall or casing 13 of the lampshade and provides an enlarged circumferential opening 14 in the central portion 11 of the lampshade.

The lower portion of the circumferential wall 13, of the lampshade fitting, tapers inwardly at 15 and terminates into an integral lamp engaging member in the form of a vertical neck portion 16, and is also provided with a plurality of apertures 17 extending through the tapered portion 15 of the lampshade fitting, and which completes a housing for the bulb 28.

The lamp 18 is formed with a hollow lamp post or vase l9 and a base 20 having an integral rim 21 provided with an aperture 22 therethrough for the passage of the electric cord 23 which is connected to the lamp socket 24, the lamp and base being molded in one piece, a lamp fixture 25 is secured to the upper portion of the lamp post or vase 19 to which is secured the lamp socket 24, the latter being provided with a seat rest or circumferential ridge 26 which is adapted to be engaged by the lampshade fitting.

In assembling the lampshade and the lamp together, the lampshade is simply placed over the lamp so that it will be in a horizontal alignment with the base of the lamp and the centre of the lampshade fitting will be in a vertical alignment with the centre of the lamp post or vase of the lamp. The lampshade is then manually pushed downwardly until the neck portion of the lampshade fitting encircles the outer circumference of the lamp socket and engages the seatrest or ridge thereof and thereby holding and retaining the lampshade in a set position on the'lamp.

The electric bulb 28 is then inserted through the top opening 14 of the lampshade into the housing 27 of the lampshade fitting and is threaded into or otherwise secured to the lamp socket, and the lamp is ready for use.

In a'modified form of the lampshade and lamp combination as illustrated in FIGS. 5 to 7, the same essential features as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are utilized, which is in the formation of the lampshade and the lampshade fitting into an integral part with one another and forming a bulbhousing, and the lamp socket being secured to the lamp and adapted to be detachably engaged by the integral lampshade fitting of thelampshade. In this modification, the lampshade 29 is somewhat in the shape of a cone in the form of a pleated skirt 30 suspended from an integral collar 31 and from which it is adapted to .be tilted upwardly and downwardly therefrom by a circumferential crease line 32 which integrally joins the pleated skirt 30 to the collar 31.

The lampshade fitting 33 is in the shape'of a funnel 34 which is made integral with the collar 31 and projects downwardly and centrally into the skirt 30 and forms a housing for an electric bulb. The upper portion 35 of the funnel terminatesinto an enlarged circumferential opening 36 and the lower portion 37 of the funnel terminates into a vertical neck portion 38 and which is adapted to engage and hug tightly the lamp socket 39 and rest on the seat, bead or rim 40 thereof. The lamp socket 39 is secured to the lamp 41, which is similarly constructed to the lamp 18 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, and the method of assembling thelampshade to the lamp is the same as already. described previously for FIGS. 1 to 5. f

The lampshade 29 and the lampshade fitting 33 are made from a suitable plastic composition and are molded in' one piece, and the lamp 41 is also made from a plastic composition, which complete the essential parts of the lamp assembly, although it is to be understood that other materials may be used without departing from the essential features of the invention.

Such essential features further lend themselves to an efficient method of packaging the lampshades and lamps together or in stacking the lampshades by themselves for shipment.

It has already been described that the skirt of the lampshade may be horizontally raised and lowered in relation to the vertical axis of the lampshade fitting which is molded to the collar of the lampshade, which in turn is molded to the skirt of the lampshade but separated therefrom when it is required to bundle the lampshades together in stacks.

The skirt of each lampshade is lifted upwardly to form a nest for receiving the adjacent lampshade and the adjacent lampshade fittings interfit with each other to complete the stacking of the iampshades for storage and shipment.

Since certain changes may be made in the above structure and the different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in :1 limiting sense.

What l claim is:

1. A lampshade and lamp combination comprising:

a lamp formed of a vertical lamp post having a base at the lower end thereof and an electric bulb socket at the upper end thereof, said electric bulb socket having a circumferential portion extending horizontally therearound;

a molded lampshade having top and wall surfaces and a peripheral bottom edge, the top surface of said lampshade having an approximately central recess;

a lampshade fitting molded in one piece with said lampshade, forming a part of the central recess thereof, and extending inwardly and downwardly therefrom to form an electric bulb housing in the upper portion of said fitting and terminating in the lower portion thereof in an electric bulb socket en- I gaging member, said socket engaging member comprising a vertical cylindrical neck portion for coaxially surrounding at least a portion of said electric bulb socket and a bearing surface means connected to said vertical neck portion for resting under the force of gravity on said circumferential portion of said electric bulb socket;

whereby, in operation, said vertical neck portion encircles said electric bulb socket and said bearing surface means rests on said circumferential portion of said socket to automatically maintain said lampshade in a constant vertical and horizontal position on said lamp with respect to the base thereof.

2. A lampshade and lamp combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein the peripheral bottom edge of.

engaging member.

Patent No. 3,813,537 Dated May 1974 x) Gilbert Lieberman Inventor( It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In the Drawing:

In Figure 3, delete reference numerals "20" and "'21" and the lead lines thereto.-

In the Specification:

Column 3, line'l9, change "perspective" to read --side-- line 22,- change "the lampshade" to read --two lampshades-- line 23, after "for" insert "stacking and-- line 63, delete "22" and insert --(not shown) line 64', delete "23" and insert --22-- Column 4, line 45, change "5" t r d .44-,

line 47, change "5"- to read "4-- Signed and sealed this 17th day of December 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

MCCOY M. GIBSON. JR. c.f MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer 7 jConun-issioner "of Patents DRM FIG-1050 (io-ss) USCOMM-DC scan-P69 U.5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I9! O36-33l 

1. A lampshade and lamp combination comprising: a lamp formed of a vertical lamp post having a base at the lower end thereof and an electric bulb socket at the upper end thereof, said electric bulb socket having a circumferential portion extending horizontally therearound; a molded lampshade having top and wall surfaces and a peripheral bottom edge, the top surface of said lampshade having an approximately central recess; a lampshade fitting molded in one piece with said lampshade, forming a part of the central recess thereof, and extending inwardly and downwardly therefrom to form an electric bulb housing in the upper portion of said fitting and terminating in the lower portion thereof in an electric bulb socket engaging member, said socket engaging member comprising a vertical cylindrical neck portion for coaxially surrounding at least a portion of said electric bulb socket and a bearing surface means connected to said vertical neck portion for resting under the force of gravity on said circumferential portion of said electric bulb socket; whereby, in operation, said vertical neck portion encircles said electric bulb socket and said bearing surface means rests on said circumferential portion of saiD socket to automatically maintain said lampshade in a constant vertical and horizontal position on said lamp with respect to the base thereof.
 2. A lampshade and lamp combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein the peripheral bottom edge of said lampshade extends below the level of said electric bulb socket engaging member.
 3. A lampshade and lamp combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said lampshade is a molded dome-shape lampshade having a recess in the top central portion thereof, and wherein said lampshade fitting extends downwardly from said recess to form said electric bulb housing, the lower portion of said fitting tapering inwardly and terminating in said electric bulb socket engaging member. 